Chapter 283
Anna’s POV:
I waited at Sunshine Villa until darkness fell. My fingers traced the skyline on the window glass, unconsciously adding Blake’s silhouette against the imaginary buildings.
The glass reflected my exhausted face back at me. I felt torn somehow knowing how this would end, yet unable to walk away.
When the clock struck midnight, my phone suddenly rang. Claire’s message appeared on the screen: [Anna, police are surrounding Seaside Manor. If you want Blakey to die, let them come in and arrest me!]
Fuck. Her threats were getting to me. I frantically wiped at the window, only smearing dust across my hand.
If Claire disappeared from our lives, would Blake vanish too? I wasn’t entirely innocent in all this either. The damage I’d caused Blake… I could hardly claim to be a blameless victim.
I walked to the fish tank and scooped out a dead fish, carrying it to the garden outside. As I buried it in the soil, I couldn’t help but laugh emptily.
Should I let Claire go free? Again? I stabbed the small garden shovel violently into the earth. How many times had I already chosen to let her walk away for Blake’s sake?
Daniel had been waiting outside the villa all evening. When I emerged, he drove me straight to the hospital. My body had finally given out after going more than twenty–four hours without sleep.
I stayed in the hospital for two days. Though my condition wasn’t entirely stable, the consistent prenatal care had kept things from deteriorating further.
On the third day, Michael visited me. His face showed clear signs of exhaustion.
“You look tired. Make sure you rest properly when this is all over,” I said.
‘I’m fine. Blake’s been putting some pressure on our department. Since you asked me not to tell him what happened, he still doesn’t know the whole story.” Michael’s expression grew serious. “But I can’t keep hiding it from him. That’s not how procedures work.”
“I understand. If he hasn’t asked to see me yet, leave it to me. I’ll find the right moment to tell him.” I nodded earnestly. “What have you found?”
Michael’s eyes lit up as he reported, “Caroline took all the blame on herself. Following her confession, we did some digging. Claire and Caroline only erased the surveillance footage inside the hospital room. The cameras outside caught partial images–Claire did something at her father’s bedside, then left within a
minute to call the doctors.”
‘Hmm. So there’s no direct evidence,” I replied calmly.
Michael excitedly explained they now had enough to arrest Claire.
He pulled a document from his briefcase–a list of all hospital staff they’d investigated. I scanned it thoughtfully. The hospital’s concealment of William’s cause of death wasn’t normal. Someone at the hospital had to be working for the Wright family.
I closed the file and handed it to Daniel.
“Set up a meeting with Blake tomorrow at Blue Wave Technologies. Make sure he comes,” I instructed.
Daniel looked worried. “Are you sure? What if he can’t control himself and hurts you? Whatever you need to tell him, I could deliver the message instead.
‘He’s not mentally ill!” I said firmly.
I knew Blake would show up. He’d once told me he had someone he wanted to protect. If he didn’t come, he wouldn’t be able to protect that person
anymore.
Blake’s POV:
1/2
Chapter 283
1 stood by the window of BlueWave Technologies‘ conference room, one hand in my pocket. I crossed my legs as I stared outside, my mind racing with possibilities about why Anna had summoned me here.
Just days ago, I’d been at my breaking point on a high–rise roof. Now I had to appear composed, in control.
The door opened. 1 turned around and caught Anna smirking at me. My eyes instantly went to Claire sitting at the conference table
I felt a mix of gratitude and frustration that she’d insisted on coming along. I couldn’t bring myself to speak to Anna first.
Anna, Blakey says he’s here for business, but I was worried about him, so I came along. You don’t mind, do you? Claire’s voice dripped with satisfaction.
“Yeah,” Anna responded flatly.
I clenched my jaw, feeling the tension in my gaunt face. My eyes burned from lack of sleep as I searched Anna’s face for any emotion. Nothing. The woman who once looked at me with such warmth now seemed like a stranger. It gutted me.
I realized Anna no longer thought about me. Even though we hadn’t seen each other for days. Even though we’d nearly lost each other forever. My confidence was gone. Did I even deserve her attention anymore?
I
“Let’s get this over with,” I said, staring down at the table.
“Are you feeling okay? Is being here making you uncomfortable?” Anna asked with a slight smile.
My eyes suddenly welled up. A wave of helplessness crashed over me. Was she genuinely concerned? Or was this just small talk?
I remembered how she’d left without seeing me that day when I needed her most.
There were so many things I wanted to ask, but when our eyes met, I froze. Her expression remained cold as ice.
I reminded myself that we weren’t husband and wife anymore. I couldn’t expect her to care about me.
“Blake barely feels well enough to be here, and you’re wasting time. I don’t know what Anna’s thinking!” Claire muttered beside me.
Daniel stepped forward from behind Anna, pointing at Claire. “This isn’t Wright Group. Nobody here has to tolerate your behavior!”
Claire stuck her tongue out childishly and grabbed my arm, hiding behind me. I felt her body press against mine and saw something flicker across Anna’s face as she watched us.
“What I need to discuss isn’t appropriate with her
Before I could answer, Daniel strode across the room, grabbed Claire by her collar, and escorted her out of the conference room. Claire’s protests faded down the hallway.
Once we were alone, I took several deep breaths, trying to steady myself. I met Anna’s eyes, determined to handle whatever this was.
“You can speak now. If this is about Caroline embezzling funds, I think you should drop the charges. I can pay back the money.”
“I know you can,” Anna said. “But what I’m about to tell you–you need to prepare yourself.”
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